An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

Here after I will not greatly labour to confute thy arguments which is a thing most easy even to any godly man,¹ how be it he had never seen art nor studied the same. But seeing that thou and thy most pestilent sect, be not content maliciously to slander those that in such a case be most innocent, but that also with most impudent mouths ye vomit forth your horrible blasphemies against gods majesty, I will most earnestly and most unfeignedly require of all rulers, Princes, Magistrates, and governors who in the fear of God do rule, above their subjects, that as they will answer in the presence of the Lord Jesus, for the administration of justice committed to their charge, that indifferently they judge betwixt you and us. To wit that if we can evidently be convicted, of those crimes which ye most maliciously, and most unjustly lay to our charge, that then judgement without mercy be executed against us. But and if ye fail in your probation, and also if ye can not prove cruelty to be in gods works, supposing that our doctrine remain (as that it is) true and stable, that then such order may be taken, for repressing of your venomous tongues, that neither ye be permitted thus openly to blaspheme gods Majesty, neither thus maliciously to slander innocents, and to offend the ears of all godly hearers. And to the end that men shall not think, that being at this time accused, we begin to devise new defences or excuses of our selves, I will faithfully and simply bring ⟨p. 153⟩forth of the works (as some what I have done before) of that singular instrument of Christ Jesus in the glory of his Gospel, John Calvin such sentences as shall make plain to all men, what our opinion is of God, of the fall of man, of the wondrous work of our redemption, and of the most just rejection and damnation of the reprobate.

Here after I will not greatlie labour to confute thy argumētes which is a thing most easie euen to any godlie man,¹ how beit he had neuer sene arte nor studied the same. But seing that thow and thy most pestilēt sect, be not content maliciously to sclander those that in such a case be most innocēt, but that also with most impudent mowthes ye vomite furth your horrible blasphemies against gods maiestie, I will most earnestlie and most vnfeanedlie require of all reulers, Princes, Magistrates, and gouernors who in the fear of God do ruele, aboue their subiects, that as they will answer in the presence of the Lord Iesus, for the administration of iustice committed to their charge, that indifferently they iudge betwext you and vs. To witt that if we can euidently be cōuicted, of those crymes which ye most maliciously, and most vniustly lay to our charge, that then iudgement without mercie be executed against vs. But and if ye fail in your probation, and also if ye can not proue crueltie to be in gods workes, supposing that our doctrin remaine (as that it is) trew ād stable, that then such order may be takē, for repressing of your vennemous tongues, that neither ye be permitted thus openly to blaspheme gods Maiestie, neither thus maliciously to sclander innocentes, and to offend ye eares of all godlie hearers. And to the end that mē shall not think, that being at this time accused, we beginne to deuise new defenses or excuses of our selues, I will faithfully and simply bring